Hey, everyone! I’m an ED admit for the class of '23 looking to potentially major in econ at Williams (and maybe concentrate in math). After I graduate, I might want to work in finance. Obviously, this can quite possibly change, but it’s where I’m at right now. I was just wondering how well Williams does with regards to setting its grads up for careers in this field. I understand that entry-level positions at investment banks and hedge funds are incredibly competitive, but I’ve heard that the Williams name opens doors–is that true? Do such companies (including consulting companies) recruit from the college?
Welcome to College Confidential, @writingpumpkin03 , and congratulations on your Williams admission!
The short answer is yes, but you can contact the career center directly with your questions. I am sure they will be glad to speak with you and answer your questions. There also are tons of summer internship options related to your fields of interest.
https://careers.williams.edu/
Another cool thing you might enjoy is to look at the Winter Study catalog online and see all the current one-month pass-fail Winter Study courses that pertain to investment banks, consulting, and hedge funds, many taught by alumni in the field, etc. Just skim to the ECON section.
https://winterstudy.williams.edu/course-information/course-offerings/
Enjoy the anticipation of the next several months, be sure to connect with other students admitted to Williams ED through facebook or groupme chats, enjoy the end of high school- now that the application process is over you can relax just a little bit more than usual and enjoy spending time with your high school friends… and congratulations again!
@TheGreyKing Thank you for your detailed response! I’ll definitely contact the career center sometime soon, and maybe drop by during Previews. And those Winter Study courses seem super interesting 
Yes, Williams will open doors in those fields. But right now you should focus on taking courses you like which develop your interest in that area. Most kids when they start college find something they truly enjoy and for the lucky few they end up working in that field. Don’t follow a major purely for the money ( and don’t think it’s unimportant either). As an undergrad I developed interest in three areas. I ended up working in all three and combining two of them to create a great job I love. You should focus on meeting people and doing well in your classes. Good luck.
@Happytimes2001 thank you for replying! Don’t worry, I’m staying open to different educational paths–it’s just that economics interests me. And I will be honest–yes, salary IS one of the major things I am considering when choosing my major. Of course, I’m not going to choose something purely based on its monetary benefit. But a degree from Williams–despite their great financial aid–is, at the end of the day, very expensive.
@writingpumpkin03 Yes, so when thinking about econ and jobs think about combining econ with something else ( math, stats, programming, internet’s focus etc). People make more when they have combined skills. My first job out of college was as an analyst then a trader. I made a lot of $ because of several languages which I speak. And yes, making lots of money is good. Just don’t limit yourself. People make money when they have specialized skills which are hard for the employer to get elsewhere. Easy: Econ degree, hard econ degree with a specialized twist. Remember that when you are taking classes. Keep it interesting to you and you will have better opportunities. Have fun.
Also, there are Winter Study courses and internships in Boston, New York and the West Coast you can take that focus on particular career interests. The career office is really proactive in getting every student the resources they need.
Thanks for replying @TennisParent